Indoor shooting range proposed for Market Street

Monday

Nov 26, 2012 at 1:17 PM

Plans have been submitted to Wilmington planners for an indoor shooting range along Market Street.

By Wayne FaulknerWayne.Faulkner@StarNewsOnline.com

Plans have been submitted to Wilmington planners for an indoor shooting range along Market Street.Bullzeye Shooting Sports, at 5942 Market St., would be the second indoor range in New Hanover County. The first is Shooter’s Choice in Ogden, about two miles away at 6780 Gordon Road. Bullzeye’s plans call for an eight-lane, 40-yard facility with digital electronic targeting controls, owner Charlie Lewis said Monday.The range, with shooting booths, would be connected to the company’s existing retail facility.“If we get the range up, we’ll be giving concealed weapon classes and basic pistol and rifle handling, maintenance and operations,” Lewis said.The building will be bulletproof – constructed of block and poured concrete, with cement floors, and steel baffling in the roof, he said.Lewis added that he feels there’s plenty of room in the market for two indoor ranges.Though Bullzeye will accommodate pistols and rifles, “probably there are eight or 10 times as many people who have rifles as handguns. When you accommodate that market, you have a whole lot of excitement.”Lewis emphasized that not just anyone from off the street would be allowed to use his range.Novices will be required to take some basic training before being allowed to shoot.There also are age requirements – anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian – and a range officer would need to supervise untrained shooters. But if a customer is accompanied by an experienced shooter, an officer won’t be needed, Lewis said.Prices have not been set, Lewis said, but he added that a year’s family membership at Bullzeye would be less than the typical $500 to $800 nationally.Lane rental would be about $15 an hour, he said, with handgun and rifle rentals available.Shooter’s Choice has eight 25-yard lanes with rates of $15 a day for the first person and $8 for second shooters, said manager Ricci Wright. It’s $8 a day for active military and law enforcement.